Title Info

alias: Tenshi nanka ja nai

seen: 1 of 1

type: OAV

grade: worthy

genre: shoujo

made: unknown

Review created: Recently, but I didn't record the date.

mod: none

This came very close to hitting the watchable category, because while it is
good stuff there is only so much that can be done in one OAV episode. And since it
is obvious these characters come from a longer manga this has the potential to
irritate. Anyway, the story takes place at a newly constructed school which as
a result is somewhat deficient in both student culture and students. The solution,
according to Akira Sudo, president of the school council, is to hold a culture
festival. We get to
watch the student council, not so much to watch the culture festival as to
follow the first steps of a romance. It seems the lively, creative and emotional
Midori "Angel" Saejima is greatly attracted to the rough seeming president.
Of course actually being able to act on that is another story. Especially
when it seems like there might be someone else who has already captured his
attention. There's also a charming subplot in which it appears the rather
brusque secretary of the school council is not immune to romantic attraction.

The characters are great, although given the time limits (30 minutes) we
really done't get to see much. This also means there is a great danger of them
feeling like another iteration of familiar shoujo stereotypes. But too bad,
the formula still works and watching Midori and Sudo step around each other
is solidly done. It also has some unusual elements, including the two in the
background story, which make it worth the watch. The dialog and physical
observation is sweet, and we get all sorts of character hints, but these
are doomed to be incomplete experiences.

The animation is reasonable but fairly basic. It has a fuzzy incomplete look
to much of it, even more-so than is expected from this genre. In addition the
colors used are weird, with quite a lot of cool colors which sometimes gives
it a `dingy' look, especially when the next minute we are confronted with a
bright watercolor look. Character designs are well done and brought out in the
time available, the physical action is nice and the ability to depict character
and atmosphere solid. The voices are pleasant and I didn't really notice the
music.